Swedish air force pilots from the 212nd Fighter Squadron at Norrbotten Wing, Sweden, arrive at Nellis AFB, Nev., for Red Flag 08-3. Seven JAS-39 Gripen fighters and their crews are participating in their first Nellis Red Flag exercise. They will be joined by U.S., Brazilian and Turkish forces for the exercise, which runs July 19 - Aug. 2. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chief Master Sgt. Gary Emery)

A Swedish air force pilot from the 212nd Fighter Squadron at Norrbotten Wing, Sweden, takes a welcome drink on the Nellis AFB, Nev., ramp after arriving in his JAS 39 Gripen fighter for Red Flag 08-3. Seven Gripens and their crews are participating in the exercise, which runs Jul 19 - Aug. 2. They will be joined by U.S., Brazilian and Turkish forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chief Master Sgt. Gary Emery)

Swedish air force JAS 39 Gripen fighters arrive at Nellis AFB, Nev., on July 14 for Red Flag 08-3. Seven Gripens and their crews, from the 212nd Fighter Squadron at Norrbotten Wing, Sweden, are participating in their first Red Flag exercise at Nellis. Red Flag 08-3 runs July 19 - Aug. 2. Aircraft from the Brazilian and Turkish air forces will join Swedish and U.S. forces for the exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chief Master Sgt. Gary Emery)

7/15/2008 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Southern Nevada residents may notice increased military aircraft activity as the Air Force prepares for two Red Flag exercises in July and August.

Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies. The exercise is conducted on the 15,000-square-mile Nevada Test and Training Range, north of Las Vegas. Red Flag is one of a series of advanced training programs administered by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and Nellis, through the 414th Combat Training Squadron.

Flying for this month's exercise begins July 21 and ends Aug.1. More than 65 aircraft will depart Nellis twice a day, in the late morning and late afternoon. Aircraft remain in the air for up to four hours.

U.S. aircraft will come from Nellis, England, North Dakota, Utah, Oklahoma, and Washington and will include F-15s, F-16s, B-52s, E-3s, EA-6Bs and KC-135s. Allied air forces taking part in Red Flag include Gripens from Sweden, F-16s from Turkey and F-5s from Brazil. A NATO E-3 command and control aircraft from Germany will also take part.

The second Red Flag exercise will begin Aug. 11 and end Aug. 22. In addition to U.S. aircraft, France, India and South Korea will take part. India and South Korea will be flying in Red Flag for the first time.

For a complete list of participating aircraft for both exercises, visit http://www.nellis.af.mil/library/flyingoperations.asp. For more information about Red Flag, call the Nellis Public Affairs Office at 404-2719.